Case Study 4 - 'How are you Getting Home' Student Stay Safe Scheme
Case Study 4 - ‘How are you getting home’ Student Stay Safe Scheme
Areas of impact: Safe transportation for students
Location: Nottingham Trent University, UK
Short description of activities:
The Student Street Safe Scheme ‘How are you getting home?’ addresses an issue of concern to the students of Nottingham Trent University: how to get home safely after a night on the town? It is a key issue, which is just as important to students as enjoying the night itself.
In response to these concerns, final year students on the Environmental Health Degree Course at Nottingham Trent University designed and delivered a campaign, which aims to provide fellow students with practical advice. They combined this with a service, delivered in partnership with Trent Cars, to allow students to get a minicab home even if they have no money.
Why it's a social innovation:
The students have partnered up with Trent Cars, a private hire taxi company, which has a computerised in-car information control system. This includes such services as 'call back system' that lets the passenger know when the taxi has arrived. The ‘How are you getting home?’ scheme works by students registering for the scheme with the Student Union. Once registered, the student client adds funds to the account and is issued with a password. To use the account the student simply orders a taxi quoting their ‘How are you getting home?’ password and their request will then be authorised, even if their account is out of credit. This simple provision of an account service, which is underwritten by the Student Union, means that students can always get home by taxi, even if they have no cash on the night.
What is its design aspect?
The scheme is a simple service design proposal, which adapts a conventional taxi account concept, making it accessible to students. In addition to the scheme,, the design aspect included publicity materials, such as practical advice on how to get home safely, how to identify a licensed vehicle, some ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ when out and about and a detachable credit card sized ‘useful numbers’ card.
Main actors and interactions (including stakeholders, networks, services and revenue streams):
- Students from Nottingham Trent University
- Trent Cars private hire taxi company
- Nottingham University Student Union promotes and underwrites the scheme and manages scheme registrations
Social Impact:
- This scheme provides a service that removes students from harm when returning from a night out on the town
- It creates a community of use with the taxi firm, the students and the student union
- In addition to providing a simple solution, the scheme makes students more aware of personal safety issues and ‘street smart’ advice
- It reduces the opportunity for unlicensed cabs to operate or for students to drink and drive
Economic Impact:
- The credit facility of the Student Union/Trent Car taxi account provides students with secure transportation even when they do not have the funds available This removes vulnerable students from harm’s way and allows inclusive access to the service
Links:
www.nottinghamcdp.com/index.asp?pageid=pageid280.xml
‘How are you getting home’ downloadable pdf Leaflet
Nottingham Crime & Drugs Partnership - CDP (partnership resource with the aim of tackling Crime, Drugs & Anti-Social Behaviour issues)